Kamusi ya Kiswahili

Learn Swahili with our comprehensive dictionary featuring pronunciation guides and example sentences

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Kisaa²

ki-saa

English: Like a clock; clockwise

Example (Swahili):

Zungusha kisaa kufungua kifungio.

Example (English):

Turn it clockwise to open the lock.

Kisaa³

ki-saa

English: Clothing or garment

Example (Swahili):

Alivaa kisaa safi kwenye sherehe.

Example (English):

He wore a clean garment to the celebration.

Kisaafu

ki-saa-fu

English: See kilihafu

Example (Swahili):

Alijifunika kisaafu usiku.

Example (English):

She covered herself with a sheet at night.

Kisaasili

ki-saa-si-li

English: See kisasili (an origin story)

Example (Swahili):

Wazee walieleza kisaasili cha kijiji.

Example (English):

The elders explained the origin story of the village.

Kisababishi

ki-sa-ba-bi-shi

English: Something that causes another thing to happen

Example (Swahili):

Uvutaji sigara ni kisababishi cha saratani.

Example (English):

Smoking is a cause of cancer.

Kisababishimaradhi

ki-sa-ba-bi-shi-ma-ra-dhi

English: Germs or microorganisms that cause diseases

Example (Swahili):

Maji machafu yana kisababishimaradhi.

Example (English):

Dirty water contains disease-causing germs.

Kisabaluu

ki-sa-ba-luu

English: A rude or immoral woman; one without respect

Example (Swahili):

Alijulikana kama kisabaluu kijijini.

Example (English):

She was known as a rude woman in the village.

Kisabechana

ki-sa-be-cha-na

English: A meal eaten between breakfast and lunch; brunch

Example (Swahili):

Tulila kisabechana saa tano asubuhi.

Example (English):

We ate brunch at eleven in the morning.

Kisabeho

ki-sa-be-ho

English: Breakfast

Example (Swahili):

Kisabeho chake kilikuwa mkate na chai.

Example (English):

His breakfast was bread and tea.

Kisabiki¹

ki-sa-bi-ki

English: What comes first; what precedes

Example (Swahili):

Kisabiki cha majira ni kiangazi.

Example (English):

The season that comes first is summer.

Kisabiki²

ki-sa-bi-ki

English: A person who lived long ago; an elder

Example (Swahili):

Kisabiki aliheshimiwa kwa busara zake.

Example (English):

The elder was respected for his wisdom.

Kisadifu

ki-sa-di-fu

English: A gene that can replicate and is passed from parent to child

Example (Swahili):

Kisadifu kinapitishwa kutoka kizazi hadi kizazi.

Example (English):

A gene is passed from generation to generation.

Kisafu

ki-sa-fu

English: See kilihafu (a cloth or sheet)

Example (Swahili):

Alijifunika kisafu wakati wa kulala.

Example (English):

He covered himself with a sheet while sleeping.

Kisaga¹

ki-sa-ga

English: An insect that bores into grains such as beans or cowpeas; a weevil

Example (Swahili):

Mahindi yaliharibiwa na kisaga.

Example (English):

The maize was destroyed by weevils.

Kisaga²

ki-sa-ga

English: A measure of two handfuls

Example (Swahili):

Mama alinipa kisaga cha maharagwe.

Example (English):

Mother gave me two handfuls of beans.

Kisagalima

ki-sa-ga-li-ma

English: 1. A small, worn-out hoe. 2. A small hoe for weeding

Example (Swahili):

Alitumia kisagalima kupalilia bustani.

Example (English):

He used a small hoe to weed the garden.

Kisago

ki-sa-go

English: A blow or a hit, especially in sports

Example (Swahili):

Alipigwa kisago kwenye mchezo wa ndondi.

Example (English):

He was struck with a blow in the boxing match.

Kisaguunga

ki-sa-gu-un-ga

English: A type of crab that likes to bury itself in sand

Example (Swahili):

Tuliona kisaguunga pwani.

Example (English):

We saw a sand-burying crab at the shore.

Kisahani

ki-sa-ha-ni

English: 1. A small plate for holding cups. 2. A metal disc used in athletics like discus throwing

Example (Swahili):

Waliweka kikombe juu ya kisahani.

Example (English):

They placed the cup on a small plate.

Kisaka¹

ki-sa-ka

English: A very short person; a dwarf

Example (Swahili):

Kisaka alijulikana kwa hekima kijijini.

Example (English):

The dwarf was known for his wisdom in the village.

Quick Learning Tips
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